Charcoal Briquet Having A Grooved Surface

ABSTRACT

A generally pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper surface and a convex lower surface, wherein at least one of these surfaces contain an enhanced surface feature comprising one or more grooves. When two or more grooves are located on one or both convex surfaces, the grooves are generally parallel to each other and to two opposing sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to two opposing sides of the briquet. The briquets have improved ignition characteristics and enhanced burn phase properties.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/270,943 filed Nov. 9, 2005 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. D517,005 filed Jul. 7, 2004 which are both incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of charcoal briquets and other solid fuel compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to pillow-shaped charcoal briquets having improved surface features that aid in improved random stacking, lighting and burn phase characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is great consumer interest in using charcoal for outdoor cooking in which meals can be prepared and served quickly for individual or large group consumption. Consumers desire cooking and grilling with charcoal briquets that are easily stackable to form the traditional starter pile, easily ignitable, maintain a uniform and efficient combustion that ignites the individual briquets in the starter pile, and have a sufficiently long burn period. Similarly, consumers desire to handle dirty charcoal as little as possible when forming traditional starter piles and the like.

Charcoal briquettes are often configured in a generally pillow-shape. This configuration provides for both reasonable ease of manufacturing by the supplier, and handling by the consumer. Pillow-shaped briquets are typically used for cooking on the grill or the like by using a multiplicity of briquets in a mounded or conical configuration or stack usually by pouring a multiplicity of briquets from a bag onto a grill or the like. Then lighter fluid is often added, and followed by igniting the briquets with an ignition source.

An “ignition phase” follows, as burning proceeds from the surface of the briquet, and a gray ash is formed on a significant portion of the briquet until a majority of the exposed surfaces have ignited, and burning has progressed inwardly toward the intended area of the briquets. Thus, completion of the ignition phase of burning is identified by the formation of visible ash on the briquet.

At this point, the briquets are spread out under the grill or the like, and they continue to burn with intense heat suitable for cooking and grilling throughout a “burn phase”. For maximum performance of the briquets, it is desirable that the ignition phase be limited in time so that the briquets may be used for cooking or grilling without undue delay, such that the duration of the burn phase is optimized and extended to provide adequate cooking or grilling time as desired by the consumer intended use.

There has been some previous work in the ornamental and geometrical configuration of charcoal briquets. For example, U.S. Des. 389,453 to Mitchell et al. describes a charcoal briquet having a groove generally in the shape of the letter “K”, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,366 to Peters describes charcoal having a briquet, or other geometric configuration, purportedly to achieve desired lighting and burn characteristics. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,446 to Fujino describes charcoal having a plurality of air passing portions or grooves in its body purportedly to supply combustion air inside the charcoal body while burning.

However, previously known ornamental and geometrically configured charcoal briquets fail to address enhancing the surface of pillow-shaped briquets to improve the random, non-mating stacking ability properties, as well as to improve ignition and burn phase characteristics. Particularly charcoal briquets used for home grilling and cooking, wherein the consumer desires charcoal briquets that require less handling, and that can be readily ignited to provide maximum heat initially, followed by an improved burn phase.

Previously known charcoal briquets intended for rapid ignition and delivery of intense heat have used combinations of various configurations and compositions. However, very rapid delivery of intense heat does not provide an acceptable combustion response for cooking or grilling purposes. Previous teachings have failed to configure and texture the surface of a pillow-shaped charcoal briquet to improve random stacking ability of the briquet, as well as enhance the ignition and burn phase properties of the briquet as preferred by consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an improved charcoal briquet having a generally pillow-shaped configuration having an upper surface, a lower surface, a periphery, and enhanced surface features preferably comprising one or more grooves, channels, trenches or the like, on one or both surfaces. The improved charcoal briquets of the present invention have improved random stacking ability, and enhanced ignition and burn phase properties, thereby overcoming previously known difficulties.

More specifically, and in accordance with the present invention, an improved pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a generally convex upper surface, a generally convex lower surface, and a periphery wherein at least one of the upper or lower surfaces has located thereon enhanced surface textured features in the form of at least one groove, channel, trench or the like. When two or more grooves are present on one or both surfaces, the grooves are preferably parallel to each other, parallel to two opposing sides of the briquet, and perpendicular to two other opposing sides of the briquet. The presence of one or more grooves on or both surfaces increases the surface area to volume ratio thereby enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the present invention which comprises a generally pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having an improved surface configuration. Pillow-shaped charcoal briquets having this unique surface configuration have enhanced ignition properties and burn phase characteristics.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow-shaped charcoal briquet embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 1, right and left side elevations being the same;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 1, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a charcoal briquet showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 5, right and left side elevations being the same;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 5, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a charcoal briquet showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 9, right and left side elevations being the same;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 9, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on both the upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 7, but having two grooves on the upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 11, but having three grooves on the upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on the upper and two grooves on the lower surface, front and back elevations being the same;

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on the upper and three grooves on the lower surface, front and back elevations being the same; and

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 7, but having two grooves on the upper and three grooves on the lower surface, front and back elevations being the same.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-18 depict a grooved pillow-shaped charcoal briquet of the present invention. Previous charcoal briquets used by consumers have typically assumed a generally pillow-shape configuration. However, previous charcoal briquets were not designed as the charcoal briquets provided herein having enhanced grooved surface features that provide consumers with a charcoal briquet having enhanced lighting and burn phase characteristics.

FIGS. 1-4 and 13 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 30 having a generally convex upper surface 38, a generally convex lower surface 36, a generally elliptical periphery 37 when viewed from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 35 when viewed from above or below. FIG. 3 depicts briquet 30 wherein one of these surfaces, upper surface 38, contains thereon one groove 32. FIG. 13 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 39 wherein both of the upper 38 and lower surfaces 36 each contain thereon one groove 32.

FIG. 1 depicts a top plan view of charcoal briquet 30 having four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded corners 34. Groove 32 runs generally parallel to side B (right side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to side A (back) and side C (front). Groove 32 thereby connects front C and back A of briquet 30 via this channel or trench-like surface feature that traverses the upper convex surface 38, and increases the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

FIGS. 5-8 and 14 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 40 having a generally convex upper surface 48, a generally convex lower surface 46, a generally elliptical periphery 47 when viewed from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 45 when viewed from above or below. FIG. 7 depicts briquet 40 wherein one of these surfaces, upper surface 48, contains thereon two grooves 42. FIG. 14 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 49 wherein both of the upper 48 and lower surfaces 46 each contain thereon two grooves 42.

FIG. 8 depicts a top plan view of charcoal briquet 40 having four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded corners 44. Grooves 42 run generally parallel to side B (right side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to side A (back) and side C (front). Grooves 42 thereby connect front C and the back A of briquet 40 via this channel or trench-like surface feature that traverses the upper convex surface 48, and increases the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

FIGS. 9-12 and 15 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 50 having a generally convex upper surface 58, a generally convex lower surface 56, a generally elliptical periphery 57 when viewed from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 55 when viewed from above or below. FIG. 11 depicts briquet 50 wherein one of these surfaces, upper surface 58, contains thereon three grooves 52. FIG. 15 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 59 wherein both the upper 58 and lower surfaces 56 each contain thereon three grooves 52.

FIG. 12 depicts a top plan view charcoal briquet 50 having four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded corners 54. Grooves 52 run generally parallel to side B (right side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to sides A (back) and side C (front). Grooves 52 thereby connect front C and back A of briquet 50 via this channel or trench-like surface feature that traverses the upper convex surface 58, and increases the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

FIG. 16 depicts a front elevational view of a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 60 having a generally convex upper surface 68, a generally convex lower surface 66, and a generally elliptical periphery 67 when viewed from the side. Briquet 60 includes upper surface 68 containing thereon one groove 62, and lower surface 66 containing thereon two grooves 62. Briquet 60, like briquets 30, 40 and 50, has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above or below, and four sides connected by four generally rounded corners (not shown). Grooves 62 run generally parallel to the right and left sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to the back and front of the briquet (not shown).

FIG. 17 depicts a front elevational view of a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 70 having a generally convex upper surface 78, a generally convex lower surface 76, and a generally elliptical periphery 77 when viewed from the side. Briquet 70 includes upper surface 78 containing thereon one groove 72, and lower surface 76 containing thereon three grooves 72. Briquet 70, like briquets 30, 40 and 50, has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above or below, and four sides connected by four generally rounded corners (not shown). Grooves 72 run generally parallel to the right and left sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to the back and front of the briquet (not shown).

It should be understood that the present invention as depicted in FIGS. 1-18 preferably describes and discloses pillow-shaped briquets with one, or two or three parallel grooves on one or both opposite convex surfaces of the briquet. It should be understood that the present invention can be considered to relate to briquets having a plurality of grooves on the surface thereof. However, it should be realized that the greater the number of grooves, the shallower the individual groove would become. The depth of the groove is defined by the width-to-depth proportion.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a means of providing charcoal briquets having textured and grooved surface features that result in consumer desired improved random, no-mating stacking ability, and improved ignition and burn phase characteristic for use in grilling, cooking or the like. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention is useful for designing a surface configuration of briquets to achieve the specific qualities and properties as disclosed herein.

This invention has been described herein in considerable detail to provide those skilled in the art with information relevant to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by different equipment, materials and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself. 

We claim:
 1. A charcoal briquet for cooking having a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface and a periphery, said upper surface having a plurality of parallel grooves extending across a majority of said upper surface and said lower surface having a plurality of parallel grooves extending across a majority of said lower surface wherein each of said grooves having a width and a depth, said width is substantially equal to said depth thereby providing increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet, said width, said depth, and said extension of said grooves providing air circulation within a pile of briquets while allowing contact between adjacent briquets and increased air circulation around said periphery of each said briquet, for aid in spreading combustion from one said briquet to another said briquet.
 2. The charcoal briquet of claim 1, wherein said briquet includes a shape comprising an ellipsoid having a minor equatorial axis.
 3. The charcoal briquet of claim 2, wherein said grooves are parallel to said minor equatorial axis.
 4. The charcoal briquet of claim 3, wherein said briquet has three grooves in said upper surface and three grooves in said lower surface.
 5. The charcoal briquet of claim 1, wherein said grooves have a maximum depth and said briquet has a maximum height dimension, said maximum depth being about one fourth said maximum height dimension.
 6. The charcoal briquet of claim 5, wherein said grooves have a maximum width, said maximum width being approximately equal to said groove maximum depth.
 7. A charcoal briquet for cooking having a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface and a periphery, said upper surface having a plurality of parallel grooves and said lower surface having a plurality of parallel grooves; said briquet comprises a shape, said shape is an ellipsoid having a major equatorial axis; and said grooves having a depth and a width are aligned with and extend nearly the entire length of said major equatorial axis, said depth, said width, and said extension for aiding combustion by providing air circulation around said periphery and between one said briquet and at least another adjacent said briquet within a pile of briquets.
 8. The charcoal briquet of claim 7, wherein said briquet has two grooves in said upper surface and two grooves in said lower surface.
 9. The charcoal briquet of claim 7, wherein said grooves have a maximum depth and a maximum width, said groove maximum depth being approximately equal to said groove maximum width thereby providing an increased surface area to volume ratio up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet.
 10. A charcoal briquet for cooking having a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface and a periphery, said upper surface and said lower surface having a plurality of grooves spaced thereacross that aid combustion by providing air circulation around a majority of said periphery and between one said briquet and at least another said briquet within a pile of briquets.
 11. The charcoal briquet of claim 10, wherein said plurality of grooves are parallel.
 12. The charcoal briquet of claim 10, wherein said briquet includes an ellipsoid shape having a minor equatorial axis.
 13. The charcoal briquet of claim 12, wherein said grooves are aligned with said minor equatorial axis.
 14. The charcoal briquet of claim 10, wherein said briquet includes an ellipsoid shape having a major equatorial axis.
 15. The charcoal briquet of claim 14, wherein said grooves are aligned with said major equatorial axis.
 16. The charcoal briquet of claim 10, wherein said plurality of grooves includes at least two grooves.
 17. The charcoal briquet of claim 10, wherein said grooves have a maximum depth and said briquet has a maximum height dimension, said maximum depth being about one fourth said maximum height dimension thereby providing an increased surface area to volume ratio up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet.
 18. The charcoal briquet of claim 17, wherein said grooves have a maximum width, said maximum width being approximately equal to said groove maximum depth.
 19. A charcoal briquet for cooking having a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface and a periphery, said upper surface and said lower surface having a plurality of grooves spaced respectively across said upper surface and said lower surface, said plurality of grooves extend substantially from one side of said periphery to an opposing side of said periphery for aiding combustion by providing air circulation around and along a majority of said periphery and between one said briquet and at least another said briquet within a pile of briquets.
 20. The charcoal briquet of claim 19, wherein another one of said upper surface and said lower surface having a plurality of grooves.
 21. The charcoal briquet of claim 19, wherein said plurality of grooves include at least two grooves.
 22. The charcoal briquet of claim 21, wherein said plurality of grooves are substantially parallel.
 23. The charcoal briquet of claim 19, wherein said periphery is an ellipsoid shape having a major equatorial axis, said grooves are parallel to said major equatorial axis.
 24. The charcoal briquet of claim 19, wherein said grooves have a maximum depth and a maximum width, said groove maximum depth being approximately equal to said groove maximum width.
 25. The charcoal briquet of claim 19, wherein said periphery is an ellipsoid shape having a minor equatorial axis, said grooves are parallel to said minor equatorial axis.
 26. A charcoal briquet for cooking having an upper surface, a lower surface and a periphery, at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface having at least two grooves, said at least two grooves spaced apart from one another and extending substantially from one side of said periphery to an opposing side of said periphery for aiding combustion by providing air circulation around and along a majority of said periphery and between one said briquet and at least another said briquet within a pile of briquets.
 27. A charcoal briquet for cooking comprising: an upper surface, a lower surface, and a periphery; said periphery defining a horizontal plane whereby said upper surface and said lower surface are symmetrical; and, said upper surface and said lower surface each having at least one groove extending respectively across substantially entire said upper surface and said lower surface, and said grooves having a depth thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio of up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet for aid in spreading combustion around said periphery and from one said briquet to another said briquet.
 28. A plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking comprising: a first briquet having an upper surface and a lower surface; at least a second briquet having an upper surface and a lower surface; and, said upper surface and said lower surface of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet having at least one groove extending respectively across substantially entire said upper surface and said lower surface thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet for allowing close contact between adjacent briquets and spreading combustion in a pile of said plurality of briquets.
 29. A plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking comprising: a first pillow-shaped briquet having a curved surface periphery; at least a second pillow-shaped briquet having a curved surface periphery; and, said curved surface periphery of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet having at least one groove extending substantially therearound for allowing close contact between adjacent briquets and spreading combustion in a pile of said plurality of briquets.
 30. A plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking comprising: a first pillow-shaped briquet having a curved surface; at least a second pillow-shaped briquet having a curved surface; and, said curved surface of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet providing a means for allowing close contact between adjacent briquets, providing air circulation around an entirety of said curved surface of each said briquet and between said first briquet and at least said second briquet, and spreading combustion in a pile of said plurality of briquets.
 31. A charcoal briquet for cooking comprising: a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface and a periphery; said upper surface having at least one groove and said lower surface having at least one groove; at least one of said grooves extending substantially from one side of said periphery to an opposing side of said periphery; and, said upper surface and said lower surface allowing close contact between adjacent briquets while said grooves providing air circulation around said periphery of each said briquet and between said adjacent briquets for spreading combustion in a pile of briquets.
 32. The charcoal briquet of claim 31, wherein the other of said grooves extending substantially from one side of said periphery to an opposing side of said periphery.
 33. A charcoal briquet for cooking comprising: a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface and a periphery; said upper surface having at least one groove and said lower surface having at least one groove; each of said grooves extending substantially from one side of said periphery to an opposing side of said periphery; and, each of said grooves having a width and a depth, said width being substantially equal to said depth thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet wherein said upper surface and said lower surface allowing close contact between adjacent briquets while said grooves providing air circulation around entire said periphery and between said adjacent briquets for spreading combustion in a pile of briquets.
 34. A charcoal briquet for cooking comprising: an upper surface, a lower surface and a periphery; said upper surface having at least one groove and said lower surface having at lest one groove; each of said grooves extending substantially from one side of said periphery to an opposing side of said periphery; and, each of said grooves having a depth and said briquet having a height, said depth being about one-fourth of said height thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio up to about 26% relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet wherein said upper surface and said lower surface allowing close contact between adjacent briquets while said grooves providing air circulation around said periphery and between said adjacent briquets for spreading combustion in a pile of briquets.
 35. The charcoal briquet of claim 34, wherein said briquet further comprising at least another groove extending across at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface.
 36. The charcoal briquet of claim 35, wherein said at least one of said grooves and said at least another groove are substantially parallel to one another.
 37. A charcoal briquet for cooking comprising: an upper surface, a lower surface and a periphery; at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface having at least two grooves; said at least two grooves each extending substantially across said at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface; and, said at least two grooves each having a width and a depth thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet for aiding combustion by providing air circulation between one said briquet and at least another adjacent said briquet within a pile of briquets.
 38. A plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking comprising: a first briquet having an upper surface and a lower surface; at least a second briquet having an upper surface and a lower surface; and at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet having at least one groove extending respectively across substantially entire at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet for allowing close contact between adjacent briquets and spreading combustion in a pile of said plurality of briquets.
 39. A plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking comprising: a first pillow-shaped briquet having a curved surface and a height; at least a second pillow-shaped briquet having a curved surface and a height; said curved surface of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet having at least one groove extending thereacross; and each of said grooves having a depth, said depth is up to about 25% of said height along at least a portion of said curved surface thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet for increased air circulation in a pile of briquets.
 40. The plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking according to claim 39, wherein: said curved surface of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet having at least another groove extending thereacross; and each of said grooves having a depth, said depth is up to about 25% of said height along at least a portion of said curved surface.
 41. A charcoal briquet for cooking comprising: a briquet including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a height; at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface having a groove; said groove extending substantially across said at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface; and said groove having a depth, said depth is up to about 25% of said height thereby providing an increased peripheral surface area to volume ratio relative to an ungrooved briquet having the same dimensional axes as said briquet for aiding combustion by providing air circulation between one said briquet and at least another said briquet within a pile of briquets.
 42. The charcoal briquet of claim 41, wherein said groove having a width, said width substantially equal to said depth.
 43. A plurality of charcoal briquets for cooking comprising: a first briquet having a convex upper surface and a convex lower surface; at least a second briquet having a convex upper surface and convex lower surface; and, at least one of said convex upper surface and said convex lower surface of each said first briquet and said at least second briquet having at least one groove; each of said grooves including a width substantially equal to a depth; and, said depth is up to about 25% of a height of said first briquet and said at least second briquet, whereby said convex surfaces allow close contact between adjacent briquets while said grooves provide air circulation between said first briquet and said at least second briquet for enhancing ignition and spreading combustion in a pile of briquets. 